By KATE BLAIN
Assistant Editor
Creating a "regional presence" to protest the death penalty in New York State was the aim at a recent interfaith gathering of religious and community leaders at the Diocesan Pastoral Center in Albany.
Two dozen representatives of various faiths, ecumenical groups, anti-death penalty organizations and public policy networks hoped to provide "continuing witness in terms of opposition to the violence of the death penalty," said Joseph Buttigieg, associate executive director of diocesan Catholic Charities.
At the gathering, organized by Catholic Charities and the diocesan Commission on Peace and Justice, dozens of issues were put on the table, including:
* the state government's debate on changing attorneys' fees for capital cases, bringing in the defendant's past record and allowing the prosecution to sum up its case last during the penalty phase of a capital trial;Several representatives explained what their organizations already do to oppose the death penalty. Fred Boehrer of Albany's Catholic Worker community, for example, stated that his group will hold its second annual Stations of the Cross through downtown Albany on Good Friday. Sister Jean Whalen, CSJ, interim coordinator for New Yorkers Against the Death Penalty, said her organization promotes writing letters to the editor and getting schoolchildren involved in anti-death penalty activities.* the issue of race affecting whether a defendant is likely to be sentenced to death; and
* concern about comforting both victims' families and the families of those facing capital punishment.
The leaders brainstormed ideas, ranging from approaching district attorneys involved in capital cases as a group to recruiting "court observers" to attend capital trials. Fasts to protest capital punishment, attendance at meetings of Parents of Murdered Children's groups and pastors' speaking to their own faith communities on the death penalty were also proposed.
Several members expressed concern about how to appropriately provide a pastoral presence for the families of those involved in capital cases.
(An interfaith prayer service is planned for June 28, tentatively including representatives from Murder Victims' Families for Reconciliation, an anti-death penalty group.)